Not Your Ex's Hexes (Supernatural Singles, #2)(41)

Potion’s Up this place was not.

“You look lost, hon.” The bartender eyed her from head to toe, lifting a pierced eyebrow toward her hairline. “Oh, you’re definitely lost and you better get found really quick or this crowd will gobble you up and spit you out … and not in the fun way.”

“There’s a fun way?”

The bartender—a shifter, Rose’s Magic warned—grinned wickedly. “So, so lost. If I see so much as a glimmer of fang, I’ll yank your canines out with my rusty pliers, Andre. And you know I don’t make idle threats.”

“I’m sorry, what?” Rose’s voice squeaked.

The bartender’s attention slowly shifted over her left shoulder to the tall, gangly vampire who’d literally been a few inches away from her neck, sniffing. Rose pulled her jacket up even higher as if it were Kevlar.

“Oh, come on, Char,” the vampire whined. “My left fang has barely grown back in from the last time!”

“Then I’d think you’d want to keep them intact.”

“Yeah…” He glanced down at his feet, shuffling awkwardly.

“And what could you do that would mean you’d be back to gumming up blood smoothies?”

“Put my fangs on someone who didn’t ask for it.” The vampire gifted Rose a sheepish look. “Sorry … unless you’re up for it?”

“That would be a no,” Rose stated emphatically.

“Can’t blame a vamp for hoping.” With a small shrug, he turned away and joined a small group of vampires across the room.

Rose nearly laughed at the absurdity of it all. “Thanks for that,” she addressed the bartender.

“So, so lost.” Char shook her head, her lips twitching with a small smirk. “I can’t tell if you’re oblivious, foolish, or just damn brave to come out to a place like the Blood Moon on a super full moon night.”

A super moon …

Well, crap. Definitely oblivious.

Shifters weren’t any more dangerous on full moons than any other nights—ignore the Hollywood tales—but Supernaturals still blamed it on things they considered uncharacteristic behavior. It was basically an excuse to act like an idiot and cry the full moon made me do it.

Like following a broody veterinarian into an unfamiliar, Magic-cloaked part of the city, and getting chased into a Supernatural bar.

A few more patrons stopped to stare, and the closest—another vampire—slid a hungry stare over her neck. Her Magic reacted instinctively, humming beneath the surface as it sparked up from her palms.

A familiar warmth settled against her back just as Damian’s hand clamped down on her arm. “Magic away, little witch. Now, or there will be more blood in the Blood Moon than what’s on the sign.”

“A friend of yours, D?” The bartender watched them curiously. “I know you’ve been a little MIA, but I thought even you’d remember not to—”

“Yeah, Charlotte. Sorry. I’ll get her out of here.”

The female shifter slipped Rose a wink. “Stick super close to Damian, hon. We don’t want anyone snatching you away for a little midnight snack.”

“With me. Now.” Damian steered her through the bar, his hand wrapped snugly around hers.

The deeper they went, the more glares they received. A few feet from the rear emergency exit, a Quall demon reached for her arm.

Damian whirled on him with a low, threatening growl. “Do it and lose your hand.”

Rose blinked, startled at the gold flashing in his eyes … and did his face change? Morph? She blinked and whatever she thought she’d seen had disappeared, and the demon backed off, stumbling over himself to get away.

She was equal parts intrigued, turned on, and scared shitless.

“Stay close.” Damian entwined their fingers and barreled through the back exit. The second the emergency door closed behind them, he spun toward her. “What the hell were you thinking coming here?”

“I’m allowed to speak now?”

His eyes, flickering between gray and gold, narrowed. “This isn’t funny, Rose. The Supes who frequent the Blood Moon aren’t big fans of witches … and you, little witch, had been seconds away from being the Head Witch in Charge.”

When he put it that way her inner steam diminished. “It’s not like I sought this place out. I followed you, and then I lost you, and then I was lost, and then these two … you know what? Never mind. It doesn’t matter.”

“You followed me? Why?”

“I didn’t follow you.”

“You just said you followed me. In those exact words.” Damian shot her a disbelieving look.

She sighed. “So maybe it started with me following you, but only because I wanted to tell you about things picking up on the sanctuary’s donation page. Bella and the pups are a hit. Tomorrow, I’ll put up pony cams for Butternut and Squash, and maybe even Jasper.”

“That’s great.” Damian’s head swung left and right, looking around the dark alley.

He wasn’t even paying attention.

“I get it. You’re not a particularly excitable person, but could you at least manage a small tonal inflection? If you’re up for the challenge, maybe even a softly cooed ‘ooh.’”